Best Shovel Knight Stages

kempokid
Shovel Knight is easily one of the best modern games I have played. A big part of this for me is the interesting design of every stage. This list will only include the main stages and none of the bonus, optional stages. Also, the Tower Of Fate - ???????? is not on the list as it is essentially a glorified boss arena without much other substance

The Top Ten

1Flying Machine

Such a great level in every way, the boss is amazing, the level is a fair but grueling gauntlet with interesting enemies, perilous wind sections and an extremely fun relic. The music on this stage is also phenomenal and also quite funny in the sense that it is some of the most relaxed music in the game on a stage that has caused much rage in many people. - kempokid

2The Explodatorium

A fun Chaotic area where it less about dodging everything, and more about perfectly managing your health because of the sheer insanity of the stage. The music encapsulates this more perfectly than anything else and the entire stage is rounded off with a fun fight that will definitely be entertaining for everyone who has played this long. - kempokid

I love this stage.It's really crazy! Rats what jump back and explode if you hit them,black bird-like creatures dropping exploding potions from the sky,and then there is that weird bomb-chucking enemy.It's just a very fun and creative level.Not to mention the boss is epic and creative!

3The Tower Of Fate - Ascent

A great final stage combining the gimmicks of all the other stages and creating an epic climb up to the conclusion. The boss at the end of the area is the most difficult thing on new game + and is an amazing surprise if you are playing blind. - kempokid

4The Clockwork Tower

One of the best settings for a stage. It's just so much fun to bounce across clock gears as you dodge missiles, all while listening to music that is definitely reminiscent of the Metal Man stage in Mega Man 2. This isn't even mentioning the great, hilarious boss at the end of the stage. - kempokid

5The Tower Of Fate - Entrance

A great stage in general, with a great background and generally entertaining design. As well as the, it is capped off with the most insane, fun, amazing boss in the game. - kempokid

6The Iron Whale

The only stage in the game which I could describe as relaxing. There is just something so serene about the underwater environment and music. It has many memorable points, but the best has to be the angler fish. - kempokid

7The Lich Yard

This is the point where the game really became something special. The music is extremely castlevania-esque. The darkness mechanic is the single most terrifying thing in any platformers, and the boss is a ton of fun, as well as the first challenging aspect of the game. - kempokid

8The Lost City

The best stage in terms of how well animated everything is. The music is nice and atmospheric and everything is just generally nicely thought out. The boss at the end is extremely complex, not that hard, but complex. - kempokid

9Pridemoor Keep

The only issue I have with the stage is the simplicity of it. There is nothing of particular interest in it. This said, the grandiose of the level, as well as the awesome feeling of storming the castle is great and something that is usually saved for endgame. As you can see, even average shovel knight stages have things going for them - kempokid

10Plains Of Passage

One of the best first stages in gaming, introducing you to all of your abilities slowly as well as teaching you that your pogo is the best move in the game. However, it is still the first stage, which never can compare to ones that come later in the game. - kempokid

The Contenders

11The Stranded Ship

A great area, but something about it stopped me from enjoying it as much. - kempokid